Peter GABRIEL

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light
Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night
He was something to observe
Came in close, I heard a voice
Standing stretching every nerve
Had to listen had no choice
I did not believe the information
[ I ] just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom boom boom
"Son," he said "Grab your things,

I've come to take you home."

To keepin' silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut
Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut
So I went from day to day
Tho' my life was in a rut
"Till I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut
I was feeling part of the scenery
I walked right out of the machinery
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" he said "Grab your things

I've come to take you home."
[ Back home. ]

When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be
And liberty she pirouette
When I think that I am free
Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see
No on taught them etiquette
I will show another me
Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom boom boom
"Hey" I said "You can keep my things,

they've come to take me home."

2. Shock The Monkey

---

Shock the monkey to live
Shock the monkey to live

Cover me when I run
Cover me through the fire
Something knocked me out' the trees
Now I'm on my knees
Cover me, darling please
Monkey, monkey, monkey
Don't you know when you're going to shock the monkey

Fox the fox
Rat the rat
You can ape the ape
I know about that
There is one thing you must be sure of
I can't take any more
Darling, don't you monkey with the monkey
Monkey, monkey, monkey
Don't you know you're going to shock the monkey

Wheels keep turning

Something's burning

Don't like it but I guess I'm learning


Shock ! - watch the monkey get hurt, monkey

Cover me, when I sleep
Cover me, when I breathe
You throw your pearls before the swine
Make the monkey blind
Cover me, darling please
Monkey, monkey, monkey
Don't you know you're going to shock the monkey

Too much at stake

Ground beneath me shake

And the news is breaking

Shock ! - watch the monkey get hurt, monkey

Shock the monkey
Shock the monkey
Shock the monkey to life

3. Sledgehammer

---

You could have a steam train
if you'd just lay down your tracks
you could have an aeroplane flying
if you bring your blue sky back

All you do is call me
I'll be anything you need

You could have a big dipper
going up and down, all around the bends
You could have a bumper car, bumping
the amusement never ends

I want to be your sledgehammer
why don't you call my name
Oh let me be your sledgehammer
this will be my testimony

Show me round your fruitcage
'cause I will be your honey bee
Open up your fruitcage
where the fruit is as sweet as can be

I want to be your sledgehammer
why don't you call my name
You'd better call the sledgehammer
put your mind at rest
I'm going to be-the sledgehammer
this can be my testimony
I'm your sledgehammer
let there be no doubt about it

Sledge sledge sledgehammer

I've kicked the habit
shed my skin
This is the new stuff
I go dancing in, we go dancing in
Oh won't you show for me
and I will show for you
Show for me, I will show for you
yea, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I do mean you
Only you
You've been coming through
going to build that powerr
build, build up that power, hey
I've been feeding the rhythm
I've been feeding the rhythm
going to feel that power, build in you
come on, come on, help me do
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, you
I've been feeding the rhythm
I've been feeding the rhythm
it's what we're doing, doing
All day and night

4. Don't Give Up

---

In this proud land we grew up strong
we were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail

Mo fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
but no one wants you when you lose

Don't give up
'cos you have friends
Don't give up
You're not beaten yet
Don't give up
I know you can make it good

Though I saw it all around
never thought that I could be affected
thought that we'd be last to go
It is so strange the way things turn

Drove the night toward my home
the place where I was born, on the lakeside
as daylight broke, I saw the earth
the trees had burned down to the ground

Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up
We don't need much of anything
Don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
Where we belong

Rest your head
You worry too much
it's going to be alright
When times get rough
You can fall back on us
Don't give up
Please don't give up

'got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
going to stand on that bridge
Keep my eyes down below
whatever may come
and whatever may go
that river's flowing
that river's flowing

Moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
So many men no-one needs

Don't give up
'cause you have friends
Don't give up
You're not the only one
Don't give up
No reason to be ashamed
Don't give up
You still have us
Don't give up now
We're proud of who you are
Don't give up
You know it's never been easy
Don't give up
'cause I believe there's a place
there's a place where we belong

5. Games Without Frontiers

---

Hans plays with Lotte, Lotte plays with Jane
Jane plays with Willi, Willi is happy again
Suki plays with Leo, Sacha plays with Britt
Adolf builts a bonfire, Enrico plays with it

It's a knockout
If looks could kill, they probably will
In games without frontiers-war without tears
Games without frontiers-war without tears

Jeux sans frontieres
Jeux sans frontieres
Jeux sans frontieres

Andre has sa red flag, Chiang Ching's is blue
They all have hills to fly them on except for Lin Tai Yu
Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games
Hiding out in tree-tops shouting out rude names

It's a knockout
If looks could kill they probably will
In games without frontiers-wars without tears
If looks could kill they probably will
In games without frontiers-war without tears
Games without frontiers-war without tears

Jeux sans frontieres
Jeux sans frontieres
Jeux sans frontieres

6. Big Time

---

Success

I'm on my way, i'm making it
I've giot to make it show, yeah
So much larger than life
I'm going to watch it growing

The place where i come from is a small town
They think so small
They use small words
-but not me
I'm smarter than that
I worked it out
I've been stretching my mouth
To let those big words come right out

I've had enough, i'm getting out
To the city, the big big city
I'll be a big noise with all the big boys
There's so much stuff i will own
And i will pray to a big god
As i kneel in the big church

Big time
I'm on my way-i'm making it
Big time big time
I've got to make it show yeah
Big time big time
So much larger than life
Big time
I'm going to watch it growing
Big time

My parties all have big names
And i greet them with the widest smile
Tell them how my life is one big adventure^
And always they're amazed
When i show them round my house, to my bed
I had it made like a mountain range
With a snow-white pillow for my big fat head
And my heaven will be a big heaven
And i will walk through the front door

Big time
I'm on my way-i'm making it
Big time big time
I've got to make it show-yeah
Big time big time
So much larger than life
I'm going to watch it growing
Big time big time
My car is getting bigger
Big time
My house is getting bigger
Big time
My eyes are getting bigger
Big time
And my mouth
Big time
My belly is getting bigger
Big time
And my bank account
Big time
Look at my circumstance
Big time
And the bulge in my big big big big big big big

7. Burn You Up Burn You Down

---

Straight as an arrow, you carry your intentions through the wind
dogs all around you, but you're going to get the message to your friend
at every rendezvous you keep on looking around
nighttime in the city and the rain keeps falling down

Let me tell you how it all works out
never thought we had so much time to loose
just learning how to twist and shout
doesn't matter much which damn beat you use

Let me tell you how it all works out
never thought we had so much time to loose
just learning how to twist and shout
doesn't matter much which damn beat you use

Pilgrim knows the road to go - how many times we told you so
burn you up we gonna burn you down, burn you up we gonna burn you down
with no rhyme or reason, no way to make it easy 'till it's done
burn you up we gonna burn you down, burn you up we gonna burn you down
saw you crossing to the other side of the street
burn you up we gonna burn you down, burn you up we gonna burn you down
should know better but you keep turning up the heat

Let me tell you how it all works out
never thought we had so much time to loose
just learning how to twist and shout
doesn't matter much which damn beat you use

Let me tell you how it all works out
never thought we had so much time to loose
just learning how to twist and shout
doesn't matter much which damn beat you use

Oh,
Hey, hey, hey, hey
make me feel like this
hey, hey, hey, hey
hey, hey, hey, hey
hey, hey, hey, hey
make me feel
whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa

When they lose you, they can't use you to burn you up,burn you up
burn you up we gonna burn you down, burn you up we gonna burn you down
break me open I need someone to save me
burn you up we gonna burn you down, burn you up we gonna burn you down
make me feel it, make me feel

In the city and the rain is falling down
burn you up we gonna burn you down, burn you up we gonna burn you down
you can make it happen with your eyes, your eyes alone

Let me tell you how it all works out
never thought we had so much time to loose
just learning how to twist and shout
doesn't matter much which damn beat you use

Let me tell you how it all works out
never thought we had so much time to loose
just learning how to twist and shout
doesn't matter much which damn beat you use

Break me open - make me feel it
break me open - make me feel it

You can make me feel it, you can make me, you can make me
you can make me feel it
you can make me feel it

8. Growing Up

---

Folded in your fleshy purse
i am floating once again
while the muted sounds are pumping rhythm
all the walls close in on me
pressure s building wave on wave
till the water breaks - and outside i go, oh

One dot, that's on or off, defines what is and what is not, one dot
two dot, a pair of eyes, a voice, a touch, complete surprise, two dot
growing up, growing up,
looking for a place to live
growing up, growing up,
gooking for a place to live
growing up, growing up,
looking for a place to live

My ghost likes to travel so far in the unknown
my ghost likes to travel so deep into your space

Three dot, a trinity, a way to map the universe,
three dot
four dot, is what will make a square, a bed to build on, it s all there,
four dot

My ghost likes to travel so far in the unknown
my ghost likes to travel so deep into your space

All the slow clouds pass us by
make the Empire State look high
as you take me in your sea-stained sweetness
it spills, it tingles and it stings
all the pleasure that it brings
'til the door has let the outside inside here

Well on the floor there s a long wooden table
on the table there s an open book
on the page there s a detailed drawing
and on the drawing is the name i took

My ghost likes to travel so far in the unknown
my ghost likes to travel so deep into your space

Growing up, growing up,
looking for a place to live
growing up, growing up,
looking for a place to live
growing up, growing up,
looking for a place to live
growing up, growing up,
looking for a place to live

My ghost likes to travel
my ghost likes to travel
moving inside of your space
my ghost likes to travel
my ghost likes to travel
moving inside of your space
my ghost likes to travel
moving inside
my ghost likes to travel
moving Inside of your space
my ghost likes to travel
moving inside
my ghost likes to travel
moving inside of your space

The breathing stops, i don t know when
in transition once again
such a struggle getting through these changes
and it all seems so absurd
to be flying like a bird
when i do not feel i've really landed here.

9. Digging In The Dirt

---

Something in me, dark and sticky
All the time it's getting strong
No way of dealing with this feeling
Can't go on like this too long

Chorus:

This time you've gone too far [x3]
I told you [x4]
This time you've gone too far [x3]
I told you [x4]

Don't talk back
Just drive the car
Shut your mouth
I know what you are
Don't say nothing
Keep your hands on the wheel
Don't turn around

This is for real
Digging in the dirt
Stay with me, I need support
I'm digging in the dirt
To find the places I got hurt
Open up the places I got hurt

The more I look, the more I find
As I close on in, I get so blind
I feel it in my head, I feel it in my toes
I feel it in my sex, that's the place it goes

Chorus

I'm digging in the dirt
Stay with me I need support
I'm digging in the dirt
To find the places I got hurt
To open up the places I got hurt

Digging in the dirt
To find the places we got hurt

[x7]

11. More Than This

---

I woke up and the world outside was dark
all so quiet before the dawn
opened up the door and walked outside
the ground was cold

I walked until i couldn t walk any more
to a place i d never been
there was something stirring in the air
in front of me, i could see

More than this
more than this
so much more than this
there is something else there
when all that you had has all gone
and more than this
i stand
feeling so connected
and i m all there
right next to you

It started when i saw the ship go down
i saw them struggle in the sea
and suddenly the picture disappears
in front of me

Now we re busy making all our busy plans
on foundations built to last
but nothing fades as fast as the future
and nothing clings like the past, until we can see

More than this
more than this
so much more than this
there is something out there
more than this
it s coming through
and more than this
i stand alone and so connected
and i m all there
right next to you

Oh then it s alright
when with every day another bit falls away
oh bus its still alright, alright, alright
and like words together we can make some sense

Much more than this
way beyond imagination
much more than this
beyond the stars
with my head so full
so full of fractured pictures
and i'm all there
right next to you
so much more than this
there is something else there
when all that you had has all gone
and more than this
i'm alone
feeling so connected
and i'm all there right next to you

More than this
more than this
more than this
more than this

12. Biko

---

September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja

When I try to sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja

You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja

And the eyes of the world are

watching now

watching now

13. Steam

---

Stand Back!
Stand Back!

What are those dogs doing sniffing at my feet
They're on to something, picking up
Picking up this heat, this heat

Chorus 1:

Give me steam
And how you feel to make it real
Real as anything you've seen
Get a life with this dreamer's dream

You know your culture from your trash
You know your plastic from your cash
When I lose sight of the track
You know the way back
But I know you

You know your stripper from your paint
You know your sinner from your saint
Whenever heaven's doors are shut
You kick them open but
I know you

Chorus 2:

Give me steam
And how you feel to make it real
Real as any place you've been
Get a life with the dreamer's dream

Stand back!
Stand back!
Can't you see I've lost control I'm getting indiscreet
You're moving in so close 'til I'm picking up
Picking up this heat, this heat

Chorus 1

You know your green from your red
You know the quick from the dead
So much better than the rest
You think you've been blessed
But I know you

You know your ladder from your snake
You know the throttle from the brake
You know your straight line from a curve
You've got a lot of nerve
But I know you

Chorus 2

Everybody nosedive
Hold your breath, count to five
Backslap, boobytrap,
Cover it up in bubblewrap
Room shake, earthquake
Find a way to stay awake
It's going to blow, it's going to break
This is more than I can take

Oh yeah, I need steam
Feel the steam all around me
Ah you're turning up the heat
When I start to dream aloud
See you move your hands and feet
Won't you step into this cloud of steam
This steam

Chorus 1

Help me yeah
Ready to steam out the log jam
Stir crazy from the freezer to the boil
Water's bubbling, it's b..b..b..bubbling
bubbling [x4]
like it's coming to a boil
Give me steam, lady
Give me steam around me now
Aah coming alive [x2]
Said give me some steam

14. Red Rain

---

Red rain is coming down
Red rain
Red rain is pouring down
Pouring down all over me

I am standing up at the water's edge in my dream
I cannot make a single sound as you scream
It can't be that cold, the ground is still warm to touch
This place is so quiet, sensing that storm

Red rain is coming down
Red rain
Red rain is pouring down
Pouring down all over me

Well i've seen them buried in a sheltered place in this town
They tell you that this rain can sting, and look down
There is no blood around see no sign of pain
Hay ay ay no pain
Seeing no red at all, see no rain

Red rain is coming down
Red rain
Red rain is pouring down
Pouring down all over me

Red rain-
Putting the pressure on much harder now
To return again and again
Just let the red rain splash you
Let the rain fall on your skin
I come to you defences down
With the trust of a child

Red rain is coming down
Red rain
Red rain is pouring down
Pouring down all over me
And i can't watch any more
No more denial
It's so hard to lay down in all of this
Red rain is coming down
Red rain is pouring down
Red rain is coming down all over me
I see it
Red rain is coming down
Red rain is pouring down
Red rain is coming down all over me
I'm bathing in it
Red rain coming down
Red rain is coming down
Red rain is coming down all over me
I'm begging you
Red rain coming down
Red rain coming down
Red rain coming down
Red rain coming down
Over me in the red red sea
Over me
Over me
Red rain

15. Here Comes The Flood

---

When the night shows
the signals grow on radios
All the strange things
they come and go, as early warnings
Stranded starfish have no place to hide
still waiting for the swollen Easter tide
There's no point in direction we cannot

even choose a side. I took the old track
the hollow shoulder, across the waters
On the tall cliffs
they were getting older, sons and daughters
The jaded underworld was riding high
Waves of steel hurled metal at the sky
and as the nail sunk in the cloud, the rain

was warm and soaked the crowd. Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.

When the flood calls
You have no home, you have no walls
In the thunder crash
You're a thousand minds, within a flash
Don't be afraid to cry at what you see
The actors gone, there's only you and me
And if we break before the dawn, they'll

use up what we used to be. Lord, here comes the flood
We'll say goodbye to flesh and blood
If again the seas are silent
in any still alive
It'll be those who gave their island to survive
Drink up, dreamers, you're running dry.

---